The Abbott government's controversial citizenship bill could be blocked in the Senate if the government continues to refuse to divulge whether Australian authorities paid criminal gangs on the high seas to turn an asylum seeker boat around to Indonesia.

Labor is considering whether to support a motion by Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young that will prohibit votes on all immigration and citizenship bills unless the government produces documents about the alleged payments.

The block would include the government's citizenship bill, which could give ministers the right to strip dual nationals suspected of backing terrorism of their citizenship. It will also affect the "Maintaining the Good Order of Immigration Detention Facilities" Bill that gives immigration officers the power to use force when necessary.

On Tuesday, the government refused to hand over any documents about the alleged payments to the Senate, citing "public interest immunity".

Ms Hanson-Young said "the evidence is mounting and the Immigration Minister's refusal to answer questions is extremely telling".

"If the minister wants the Senate to deal with any new matters, including the citizenship bill, he should comply with the current requests for information and start answering basic questions."

The motion, which could be passed early next week, says the Senate will not accept the claim of public interest immunity from the government and expects the government to hand over documents relating to the payments.

Fairfax Media understands Labor will consider its support to the motion over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's language has shifted over the alleged payment of $US5000 ($6500) to each crew member and $US6000 to the captain on board a vessel travelling to New Zealand. Initially denied, it is now suggested that if a boat was leaking the government would do whatever it could to save lives at sea.

When asked whether Mr Dutton was aware of the photographic evidence of the cash payments obtained by Fairfax Media on Thursday, he said he would comment on the venture at another time.

"We will comment when it is appropriate to do so, particularly with individual ventures, but that is something we are not going to comment on at the moment," he said.

"There are significant issues at sea in dealing with safety not only of our own personnel but also [of] people who are on these rickety boats and I am very concerned about the safety of life at sea."

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